The anti-AFK mechanism that Wen Xishu mentioned came earlier than expected.
In the workplace filled with numerous and enormous items, a sweet laugh suddenly echoed. This laughter should have made people feel comfortable, but it arrived in a most eerie manner...
Apart from the three of them, there were no other living beings in the entire workplace. Park Mi-hye felt as if the laughter was falling directly on her scalp, making her hair stand on end.
She felt a bit cold.
This wasn’t a mental chill, but the actual temperature was indeed dropping.
After Wen Xishu sped through the first two stages, both Park Mi-hye and Zheng Zai began analyzing earnestly.
However, the results of their analyses left their mental states completely different.
They both guessed that the key lied in the phrase "worthy of trust, entrust your back."
Zheng Zai thought, Wen Xishu saved me several times, my life is his to give. He is absolutely trustworthy, someone I can entrust my back to.
Park Mi-hye, on the other hand, thought: Zheng Zai harbors hatred. He hates the Bunker’s upper echelons. Wen Xishu also knows my true identity...
I’m a beauty after all, but Wen Xishu’s attitude towards me is entirely different from that towards Zheng Zai... They never considered me a friend, nor did they think I was one of them.
Both found the key, yet neither discovered the means to interpret it.
The temperature continued to plummet, and the laughter showed no signs of stopping. If it kept dropping, this workplace would become an actual ice cave.
Wen Xishu noticed something amiss:
"Interesting, the previous eeriness could either be avoided or dealt with by recording bad deeds... So, how do we dispel this eeriness? If the laughter doesn’t stop, the three of us will freeze to death here."
Wen Xishu quickly realized—"worthy of trust, entrust your back," could these be two different hints?
It’s not a mere redundancy for enhancing momentum, but two distinct pieces of information.
First, find a trustworthy teammate... then choose to entrust your back?
The laughter continued. Under its influence, the three exhaled frosty breaths. The temperature had plummeted drastically.
But the laughter only grew louder, never ceasing. The bone-chilling cold began to affect their consciousness.
Wen Xishu could barely maintain his clarity and continue thinking, while the other two, though still conscious, were unable to think of a way to break the deadlock.
Wen Xishu said,
"Zheng Zai, Park Mi-hye, if you want to live, do as I say."
"Next, we three will lean our backs against each other, maintaining a stance where all three of us are back-to-back."
Zheng Zai and Park Mi-hye realized too that the sweet laughter brought deadly cold.
They both trusted Wen Xishu’s words somewhat. Zheng Zai, in particular, trusted him completely, so he immediately chose to entrust his back to Wen Xishu, leaning his back against Xishu’s.
Park Mi-hye hesitated just a moment, and seeing that Zheng Zai wasn’t in danger, quickly followed suit.
The three quickly had their backs against each other.
On Wen Xishu’s left was Zheng Zai, and on his right was Park Mi-hye. The three’s backs faced each other, forming a triangle.
Once their backs touched, the laughter indeed ceased. But this coldness did not vanish.
[It’s so cold... But it doesn’t seem to get colder, Wen Xishu is really reliable. I truly want to return to the Bunker.]
[Is this considered saved? Hey, why can’t I speak...]
[Wait, this is Park Mi-hye’s voice!]
Upon completing the back-to-back stance, Wen Xishu immediately discovered that the three were in a state of immobility.
As he pondered how to present the theme of betrayal, he suddenly heard Zheng Zai’s voice.
The thoughts in Zheng Zai’s mind were transmitted verbatim into Wen Xishu’s mind.
Currently, Zheng Zai was also confused, unable to speak his mind because he couldn’t open his mouth.
Meanwhile, Park Mi-hye’s thoughts were transmitted to Zheng Zai’s side.
[Why is it still so cold...]
[The laughter seems to have stopped; did Wen Xishu find that item? He’s so capable, he should be able to find it, right?]
[Once we get past this stage, I can go back. Once back, I never want to come to Deceit Tower again!]
[Wait... that’s his voice. Wen Xishu’s voice!]
Yes, Park Mi-hye heard the inner voice of Wen Xishu. The content was as follows:
[As I guessed, no mistake. Entrust your back physically. Then would the betrayal theme be presented on the back?]
[Backstab... doesn’t mean literally growing a thorn on the back, right? If it does, that’d be quite fun.]
[The current situation seems to be testing our level of trust. Hmm... Wait, I can hear Zheng Zai’s voice.]
[Indeed, I get it. Park Mi-hye, you’re listening, aren’t you? Did my voice reach you?]
This thought from Wen Xishu startled Park Mi-hye.
At this moment, the thoughts Zheng Zai heard went as follows.
[This monster reacts too quickly... Have I established a link with him? He can hear my voice, and I can hear his?]
[No, maybe it’s not like that... What about this pervert Zheng Zai? Whose voice does he hear?]
Meanwhile, Zheng Zai’s thoughts were—
[Monster... she’s talking about Wen Xishu? This woman is truly ungrateful.]
[Indeed, in her eyes, I’m a pervert. What does Wen Xishu think of me?]
Zheng Zai’s psychological reaction was naturally heard by Wen Xishu.
Wen Xishu found it amusing:
[This situation is really interesting. Right, Park Mi-hye, I saved you so many times, yet you call me a monster? Haven’t you considered that this inner voice perceivable might be some sort of voting mechanism?]